Productivity can feel elusive, especially if you’re trying to balance work, life and relationships. But it doesn’t have to be.
Productivity experts have come up with a few simple tips that can help you get more done in a day. And in the long run, they can help you feel more productive and less stressed!
1. Prioritize your tasks
If you’re struggling to get more done in a day, one of the best things you can do is prioritize your tasks. This can help you complete important work first and meet deadlines without sacrificing too much time on other, less important tasks.
There are many different methods for prioritizing tasks, including the Eisenhower method, the “eat that frog” technique and the ABCDE method. Each method is useful for different situations, so you’ll want to choose the one that best suits your needs.
The Eisenhower method involves categorizing your tasks based on their importance and urgency. This can be helpful when you have a lot of tasks to complete in a short amount of time, or if your work is particularly stressful.
Once you’ve prioritized your tasks, it’s important to schedule them appropriately. Make sure to give yourself enough time to complete each task and set aside a reasonable amount of time for switching back and forth between different tasks.
Another useful strategy for prioritizing tasks is to create a priority matrix. The matrix will allow you to categorize your tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, not urgent and not important, important but not urgent, and not urgent but not important.
You’ll also need to decide whether these tasks are important to complete now or for the long-term. Using this approach can help you find more value in the work you do, which will ultimately lead to greater productivity.
Other strategies for prioritizing tasks include choosing the worst thing to do, focusing on your life goals, and setting limits on worktime. Practicing these techniques can help you get more done in a day while still having time to do the things you love.
2. Focus on one task at a time
One of the best ways to get more done in a day is to focus on one task at a time. This method is called single-tasking and has several benefits, including a boost in productivity and a reduction in procrastination.
It also helps you achieve a state of flow, which is a feeling of deep involvement and complete concentration on a task. It can also lead to increased creativity, better memory and less stress.
You can train yourself to focus on one task at a time by setting up a routine and sticking with it. You can even try using a timer to force yourself to stay focused for longer than usual.
Another way to make this work is by breaking down large tasks into bite-sized pieces. This is a great strategy for projects that can be overwhelming, such as writing a book or creating an effective presentation.
Breaking down a project into bite-sized chunks can improve your focus by making each step of the process easier to accomplish. It can also help you finish a project faster.
To keep your focus during this time, it’s important to avoid distractions. Set up a quiet workspace, silence your phone or turn it off and clear your desk of everything but the thing you’re working on.
A simple way to do this is to make a list of the things you want to accomplish that day, and then prioritize them by priority. This will ensure that you work on the most important things first and leave the least important ones for later.
You can also use the Pomodoro Technique to get more done by focusing on a task for 25 minutes, then taking a break of 5 minutes. This works well for most people, and it’s a good way to reduce anxiety that you’ll burn out if you don’t focus long enough.
3. Break down large tasks into bite-sized pieces
Breaking down large tasks into smaller pieces is an effective way to get more done in a day. It can also help you avoid procrastination, which can lead to stress and frustration.
It’s a great idea to make a list of the main tasks that need to be completed in order to reach your goal. This way, you can assess how long they’ll take and identify any milestones that need to be reached along the way.
Next, you can write out the steps that you need to complete for each task. This will ensure that you’re focusing on the right thing and don’t overlook anything.
When you finish a task, cross it off your to-do list. This gives your brain a small hit of dopamine, which increases your motivation to do more work!
Creating milestones for your project can be helpful because it helps you set a deadline that will allow you to meet your goal. It also helps you keep track of what needs to be completed each day and ensure that you don’t get behind on your deadlines.
Another great way to break down a task into smaller ones is to set a time limit. For example, you can set an hour for each task, or whatever is appropriate for your project. This way, you can estimate how much time it will take to complete a specific task and focus on that until it’s completed. This can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run, as well as give you a sense of accomplishment every time you finish a task!
4. Take breaks
Taking breaks is a vital part of achieving your productivity goals. It can boost your energy level and focus, give you a mental and physical break from work, and allow you to unwind.
Research has shown that people who take frequent breaks are more productive than those who don’t. This is because long hours of work can lead to fatigue and a loss of concentration.
Many people feel like they don’t have time to take a break but, the truth is, it doesn’t need to be hard or stressful. You just need to plan ahead and make it a priority.
You might also find it helpful to set a reminder for yourself. It might be a timer or an alarm on your phone that will alert you when it’s time to take a break.
It’s important to be intentional about the way you take your breaks so that they give you the most productivity benefits. Some of the most effective breaks include meditation, exercise, and even walking outside.
Try to think about something that you’re looking forward to doing when you’re taking a break. This will give you a reason to stick with it, and you’ll start to associate taking breaks with pleasure.
A study by Staples found that employees are more likely to remain with a company when it allows them to take short breaks throughout the day on their own terms. This is particularly important for people who work long hours and spend most of their day sitting down.
If you’re struggling to remember when to take a break, consider installing an app that will actually force you to take a break when it’s time. Stretchly is a free and open-source application that’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
5. Don’t multitask
If you want to get more done in a day, you should resist the temptation to multitask. It’s a common habit that many people fall into, and research shows that it doesn’t actually help you get more work done.
Trying to multitask can be a very frustrating and stressful experience. Not only does it negatively impact your productivity, but it can also lead to mistakes and errors in your work.
One way to combat this is by setting aside time every day to focus on one task before switching to another. This will allow you to focus on the task at hand, and you’ll be able to get more done in less time overall.
You can also try grouping similar tasks together to get them done in one go. For example, if you have to do content research for your professional website and watch inspirational YouTube videos for research purposes, you might consider doing those two tasks at the same time.
It might take you two hours to do these tasks separately, but if you multitask, it’ll only take you about half as long.
This might seem like a small amount of time, but when you multiply that by multiple tasks, it can really add up! In fact, it could even make the difference between getting to your destination on time and missing your deadline.
Besides the negative effects on your productivity, multitasking can also have serious health consequences. Researchers have found that multitasking can be harmful to your mental and physical health, as it can cause stress, anxiety, and even depression. If you’re a busy professional who wants to get more work done, you should stop wasting your time multitasking and focus on one task at a time instead.